Miss-Delectable
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Belleville Intelligencer - Ontario, CA
A Belleville judge is fed up with the lack of available deaf interpreter for local criminal courts — in a city that is home to a provincial school for the deaf, no less.
To underscore his frustration, Justice Stephen Hunter pledged Friday he would stay serious sex-related criminal charges laid against a city man if an interpreter isn’t arranged for the man’s next court appearance later this month.
The hearing impaired man had arrived at the Belleville Ontario Court of Justice with the intention of proceeding with his case, which has been before the court for a number of months.
While the case can’t be publicized, owing to the specifics of the charges, the accused was told he couldn’t resolve the matter — which was expected to include a plea of guilty on several of the charges — because a deaf interpreter wasn’t available.
“I find it absolutely beyond comprehension that we can’t get a sign language interpreter in a city that houses the Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf,” Hunter said, shaking his head.
“The court will provide an interpreter (on the accused’s next date) or the charges will be stayed,” he said.
“I would hope that the court would offer a chance for us (the Crown) to argue before they were stayed,” assistant Crown attorney Laurie Nichols said.
“I would permit you a little time to make a point,” Hunter peevishly answered before moving on to another matter.
A Belleville judge is fed up with the lack of available deaf interpreter for local criminal courts — in a city that is home to a provincial school for the deaf, no less.
To underscore his frustration, Justice Stephen Hunter pledged Friday he would stay serious sex-related criminal charges laid against a city man if an interpreter isn’t arranged for the man’s next court appearance later this month.
The hearing impaired man had arrived at the Belleville Ontario Court of Justice with the intention of proceeding with his case, which has been before the court for a number of months.
While the case can’t be publicized, owing to the specifics of the charges, the accused was told he couldn’t resolve the matter — which was expected to include a plea of guilty on several of the charges — because a deaf interpreter wasn’t available.
“I find it absolutely beyond comprehension that we can’t get a sign language interpreter in a city that houses the Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf,” Hunter said, shaking his head.
“The court will provide an interpreter (on the accused’s next date) or the charges will be stayed,” he said.
“I would hope that the court would offer a chance for us (the Crown) to argue before they were stayed,” assistant Crown attorney Laurie Nichols said.
“I would permit you a little time to make a point,” Hunter peevishly answered before moving on to another matter.